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Category: Sea Transport / Unions

Maritime workers confront Colin Barnett over Fremantle Port

Wednesday, 8 Jun 2016 09:52:33 | Andrew O'Connor

Mr Barnett says the port sale is critical to fund infrastructure. (ABC News: Andrew O'Connor)

West Australian Premier Colin Barnett has told protesting maritime workers the sale of Fremantle Port will be critical to funding future infrastructure and services.

A group of about two dozen wharf workers yelled at the Premier as he arrived to open a new retail store for German retailer Aldi.

At least one worker called the Premier a "dog" as he left the store after the official launch, but Mr Barnett walked directly over to the group and spent more than 10 minutes debating the proposed privatisation of Fremantle Port.

Mr Barnett told the workers the expectations of government were escalating, and money was needed to meet that demand.

"People want more and more. We've got a big state. We've got to build roads. We've got to build power stations, water supplies and all of that. It costs a lot of money to build all that infrastructure and all those services," he said.

"Since this State Government's been in power, the total assets, all the infrastructure owned by the Atate has increased by over $70 billion. But we don't have the money to continue with the population growth.

"So for state governments, and we're not alone in this ... we're going to build roads, water supplies, more power supplies, we've got to fund it and we can't fund it just out of our revenues."

Workers unconvinced on sale

But some workers were unconvinced by the need for public assets to be sold at all.

"Can you tell me why we are getting rid of public assets, when they don't belong to you, they don't belong to me, they belong to my kids, and their kids, and future generations?" the worker asked.

Fremantle Port showing cranes and ship being loaded Photo: The WA Nationals oppose the Fremantle Port sale. (ABC News: Robert Koenig-Luck)

Fremantle Port is one of a string of public assets being targeted for sale by the Barnett Government as it tries to curb rising debt and create a fund to bankroll future infrastructure projects.

The sale appears unlikely to proceed because of opposition from Mr Barnett's alliance partner, the WA Nationals.

The Nationals remain deeply concerned about pricing and access arrangements at the port, and not convinced by Treasurer Mike Nahan's assurances that port users' interests can be protected through regulation.

But even with the prospect of the sale unlikely, the maritime workers remain opposed to any lease or sale, and expressed concern about the security of their jobs with the port in private ownership.

Mr Barnett told them the long-term lease would include protections covering access and pricing for port users, and a regulatory regime.

"There'll be very strict controls over it," he said.

AustraliaPlus


 

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